Electric clock.



No. 69!,256. Patented Ian. I4, I902 w. w. FRANTL.

ELECTRIC cLocK.

(Application filed May 13, 1899.)

(No Model.)

W/TNESSES:

77. flan/7;

TTORNEY m: uonms versus 120.. PNOTO-LITNCL, WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT O ICE.

WILLIS W. FRANTZ, OF l/VAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

S2ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,256, dated January 14, 1902. Application filed May 13, 1899. Serial No. 716,687. (No model.)

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

which are made a part hereof, and on which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a rear View of a clock embodying my said invention,partly in elevation and partly in section; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the same looking in the direction indicated'by the arrows from the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a top or plan View of the electric-circuit maker and breaker; Fig. 4, a detail cross-section on the dotted line 4: 4 in Fig. 1, illustrating the regulatingvalve more clearly; and Fig. 5, a detail View on the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 2, showing the clutch mechanism.

representtheframework; B, the main operating wheel or ring, and O. a scale electrically connected to alarm or call bells, as will be presently described. H j i The frame A is of any suitable, form. and

, construction for the purpose, being especially adapted to ,thesuppo'rt and operation of the particular mechanism employed.

The main operating-wheel B is a hollowring, preferably of glass, partially'filled with liquid mounted to revolve on a shaft 1 and divided at its lower side at the center into two chambers band b by the valve b; Said valve is of any approved construction capable of fine adjustment for the purpose to be presently described. A by way or passage B connects the two sides or chambers of the wheeL, Said passage is located just below the center of said wheel, and a clip I) is securedaround its center, provided with upi wardly-projecting ears with perforations,

' through which the shaft 1 extends. To one side of said clip is secured a toothed wheel 2, and alongside said toothed wheel is a toothed ratchet-wheel 3, secured to the shaft 1. A spring-pawl 19 is pivoted on the wheel 2 and engages with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 3. The hollow ring B and wheel 2 are secured together, as above described, to turn freely on the shaft 1, and the ratchet 3 is secured to revolve with the shaft. A toothed rackbar 4,1nounted with its upper end to slide in a guide a on the frame A, engages with the teeth of wheel 2 and at its lower end is jointed to one end of apivoted lever 5, the opposite end of which lever is provided with an armature m and located near the positive pole of a magnet 6, which is an electrical circuit adapted .of the vertical rib b the metal plate B is cov ered with a strip of vulc'anite or other nonconducting material b A spring-contact arm 9 is mounted in the frame above the plate B and extends down, so that "its point will normally contact with the surface of said plate g and be vertical when in its central position. In said drawings the portions marked A From the-upper end of said arm a line-wire 10 runs to one pole of a battery 8, and a wire 11 runs from its other pole to the other pole of magnet 6. A weight W is connected by a flexible connection 12- to one side of the wheel B,

said flexible connection being attached to its periphery at one side by a pin 13' and extending entirely around to the same side and having the weight hung thereto. The Valve '0, which divides the wheel or ring into two chambers, consists of a diaphragm having an aperture covered by a plate mounted to slide thereon and operated by means of a fine adjusting-screw. lhis or any appropriate "alve may be used, the only essential being that it shall be capable of fine adjustment in order that the proper regulation of the clock may be secured, as will bev presently described. Said wheel or ring ispartially filled with mercury or other liquid, as indicated in Fig. -1.

A metal plate B is adjustably secured on the lower side of the ring B and connected to one line-wire 13 of an electrical circuit. Below the same, secured on the frame, is a graduated scale 0, having a contact-finger 0, adjustably mounted thereon, which is connected to the other line-wire lt of said circuit. Said wires run to opposite poles of the battery 15. By adjusting said metal plate B or said contact-finger, orboth, alarm or call bells located in said circuit will be sounded at the intervals desired, as will be readily understood.

The operation of my said invention is as follows: The parts being in the relative position shown and the magnet 6 being energized by the closing of the circuit by means of the contact-arm 9, as above described, the armature end of lever 5 is suddenly pulled down, therack-bar 4 forced up, rotating the toothed wheel 2, which carries the ring or wheel B with it'to that point where the arm 9 will pass one end of the rib Z2 when it will spring over onto the non-conducting surface 12 on the opposite side and break the circuit. A portion of the mercury or other liquid in the ring B at the same time passes through the by-way B from chamber 7) to chamber 6 to maintain its level, and as said by-way is now in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 theliquidcannot return through said by-way. The weight W now operates to reverse the motion of wheel B, but the weight of the liquid in chamber 17 nearly balances it and retards its motion. The valve 7) being adjusted to just the required degree will, however, permit the liquid to flow back into chamber 1) at the speed required to move the hand H the distance desired during the period of time predetermined, the movement being effected through the ratchet-wheel 3 and pawl 19, as will be readily understood. When the weight has turned said wheel on its axis until the point of arm 9 passes the other end of rib b it springs back to the other side, closes the circuit through magnet 6, and energizes the same, forcing said wheel B back quickly, as before described, and this operation will continue in,- definitely. Call or alarm bells being located in the circuit composed of the wires 13 and 14 and battery-15 will be sounded as the contact-finger 0 comes against the surface of the metal strip B and closes said circuit, as'will be readily understood. By the adjustment of said finger c on the scale C the time of sounding said bells may be determined as desired.

Insteadof a single wheel B, as shown, a series of them may be mounted on a single shaft and an increase in motive power thus obtained and the continuous operation of the clock insured, as if one wheel should get out of orderthe others would continue to drive the shaft.

Having thus fully described my said in venlion, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric clock, the combination of an oscillating wheel divided by a valve at its bottom and connected by a passage above oscillate on a shaft, said shaft, indicatinghands thereon, electrically-operated mechanism for operating said wheel in one direction, a weight for operating it in the other, a clutch mechanism connecting the chamber and the shatt to operate said shaft when said wheel is operated by said weight, and a valve in said wheel for regulating the flow of the liquid therein from one side to the other, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric clock the combination of a pivoted annular chamber divided into sections, and having a passage extending from one side to the other above its lower portion, permitting the fluid to flow freely from one section to the other when the chamber is tilted in one direction; a gravity driving device for moving the said chamber in the reverse direction, and means for controlling the flow of fluid from one section to the other while the chamber is being moved in the reverse direction, thereby regulating the speed of the said chamber, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric clock the combination, of a shaft, an annular hollow wheel, mounted thereon,a regulating-valve dividing the chamber into sections, a pipe or passage connecting the two sections and arranged above the said valve, and means for oscillating the said chamber, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electric clock the combination of an oscillating hollow wheel for fluid, divided into sections and provided with means for regulating the distribution of the fluid in the said sections; of an electromagnet, intermediate mechanism between the said electromagnet and chamber whereby the said chamber is tilted in one direction when the electromagnet is energized, and a circuit making and breaking device operated by the said chamber and controlling the current through said electromagnet, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electric clock, the combination, of a pivoted chamber for fluid divided into sections and provided with means for regulating the distribution of the fluid in the said sections: of an electromagnet and intermediate mechanism operating to tilt the said chamber in one direction; a weight for moving the said chamber in the reverse direction; and a circuit making and breaking device controlling the said electromagnet and operated bythe said chamber, substantially as set forth.

'7. In an electric clock, the combination, of

an oscillating hollow wheel containing fluid and divided into sections, a regulating valve between said sections, a shaft carrying the in for operating it in one direction, gravity mechanism for operating it in the other, and a circuit maker and breaker controlled thereby, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Baltimore, Maryland, this wheel, and gravity mechanism for operating 3d day of May, A. D. 1899. said wheel when said circuit is broken, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, of an oscillating chamber, a Valve dividing it, electric mechanism WILLIS W. FRANTZ. Witnesses:

THOS. KELL BRADFORD, M. SHEEHAN. 

